3 arrested in interstate sale, distribution of bath salts

Randy Pentis, chief of police for Thousand Oaks, takes the podium at a news conference about the arrest of three men in connection with synthetic drugs commonly known as bath salts. The announce­ment was made Tuesday morning at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s Thousand Oaks ­station.

Ventura County Star

Ventura County District Attorney Greg ­Totten speaks at a news conference about the arrest of three men in connection with synthetic drugs commonly known as bath ­salts.

Ventura County Star

Three men were arrested last month in connection with the inter­state sale, possession and distribution of synthetic drugs known as bath salts in eastern Ventura County, sheriff's officials ­announced ­Tuesday.

The distribution occurred in two Dough­main head shops located in Thousand Oaks and Moor­park and originated in Utah, officials said during a news conference at the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Thousand Oaks ­station.

Law enforcement and other officials addressed the dangers of bath salts, a rising synthetic drug that made head­lines on the East Coast in the past two ­years.

Officials said bath salts are potent and addicting designer drugs that resemble meth­amphetamine and are packaged to look like legal products. They derived their street name because when they first surfaced, they resembled products used in baths, but now they also come in powder and pill form, ­officials ­said.

The investigation into the recent arrests began in June after a Moor­park woman crashed her car into a residence. The woman told deputies she had used bath salts purchased at the Dough­main store in ­Moorpark, ­authorities ­said.

An undercover detective that same month purchased five different bath salts from the Moor­park store, and another purchased two from the Thousand Oaks location, ­officials ­said.

Investigators in September served search warrants at both locations and seized hundreds of bath salt packages and other synthetic drugs. The stores, which also sell tobacco and glass smoking pipes, were not shut down after the raids and remain open to the public, ­officials ­said.

Investigators also searched the home of Joshua Wright, 36 of Moor­park, owner of ­Doughmain.

Authorities determined a Utah man was supply­ing many of the bath salts to the Ventura ­County ­stores.

With the help of the West Jordan Police Department in Utah, investigators served a search warrant to Jonathan ­Riedel, 31, in November and hundreds of pounds of plants, powders and pills were seized from his home, ­officials ­said.

Investigators also seized a vehicle, $22,000 in cash and silver valued at ­$23,000.

Riedel was arrested Jan. 10, along with Wright's manager, Brandon ­Sarrail, 26, of Simi Valley, officials said. Wright turned himself in to ­authorities.

All three suspects were charged under the same health and safety code violations used in cases involving meth­amphetamine and ecstasy, which officials said is the first time that has happened in ­California.

The suspects could face additional charges after further crime lab analysis of the products, said Deputy District Attorney Blake ­Heller, who is prosecuting the ­case.

Wright and ­Sarrail made their $50,000 bail and are set to appear in court on April ­11.

Riedel was extradited from Utah and is in Ventura County jail on $1 million bail. He will appear in court for a bail review Wednesday, ­Heller ­said.

Ventura County District Attorney Greg ­Totten said bath salts are dangerous and can lead to psychotic episodes, brain damage and even death. He added that they are meant to attract young people with colorful packaging and catchy names such as Ivory Snow, ­Scooby Snax, Vanilla Sky and Pump ­It.

"They are manufactured in labs, often in foreign countries, where chemists are constantly modifying the compounds to make the crime lab analysis more difficult and ­complex."

Authorities don't know is how many people purchased and were affected by bath salts from the two ­shops.

Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County Public Health officer, said his agency has paired with Behavioral Health to learn more about the synthetic drug and warned that parents should be looking out for ­them.